Two thirds of Brits check in at airport bar

Diane King

Holidaymaking Brits make the bar their first port of call when arriving at the airport departure lounge.

A survey found two thirds of Britons heading abroad admitted to getting into celebratory mode - or settling their nerves - before flying

8am was viewed as an acceptable time to start drinking, although three-quarters of Brits claimed they would never drink in the mornings - but were prepared to make an exception when in holiday mode.

The average UK holidaymaker, according to cheapfliights.co.uk, will consume three drinks at the airport bar and a further two on the plane. 28 per cent admitted to having “one too many” before getting on the plane.

It may be that that extra drink is a nerve-settler - 90 per cent of those surveyed said they found the whole pre-holiday experience extremely stressful - packing (65 per cent) and ensuring baggage was within weight limits (56 per cent) among the main causes.

Queueing was also a much-hated form of holiday, 46 per cent of travelers citing this as a major annoyance.

But almost 70 per cent of Brits saw a drink as a stress-reliever - with 34 per cent having a beer at the airport bar, 19 per cent preferring a shot, and 15 per cent opting for a celebratory glass of fizz.

More than half (58 per cent) of those questioned knew the higher altitude heightens the effects of alcohol on the system, but would have a drink anyway - although 12 per cent knew someone who had been refused entry to a flight due to being drunk.

And 17 per cent admitted to spending more than they intended at the airport shops due to having had too much to drink.